Steering-wheel lock



R. BECKER. STEERING WHEEL EocK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6 |920.- 1,368,382. Patent@ Feb. 15,1921.

` 2 sHEEs-sHEEIfI.

INVENToR QM,

'ATTORNEY l.. um .2:1-

wlTNEssEs: 3V- l R. BECKER. STEERING WHEEL LocK.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 6. |920.

1,368,382. Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

|NvENToR BY AT'TORNEY lthe key;

,RUDOLPH BECKER, or RosELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY. y

summe-WHEEL Loox. y

' Application filed January-6, 1920.' Serial No.

To all whom t may concern.' y f u Be it known that T, RUDoLPH'BEoKERya citizen of the `United States, residing at Roselle Park, in the county of Union and y State of NewJersey, have-invented .certain new and useful Im 'roveinents in Steeringl/Vheel Locks; of w ich. the following. is a speciication, reference being-f hadftherein to the accompanying drawings` Thisinvention relates to @cking devices adapted more particularly'-for preventing the use of automobiles by unauthorized persons.

It has heretoforebeen proposed tolproA vde keycontrolled means for unlocking the" x steering Wheel of' tn-automobile fromthc steering post for the purpose of rendering' the steering gear inoperative to vdirect .the course of the vehicle,'thus preventing use Aof the vehicle by a person not in possession of The various devices ofI this type, however, with which I am familiar, possess a disadvantageous feature, in that the steering wheel is locked tothe steering post by means of a. key-controlled slide-bolt which is projected into a radial -notchin the steering post, whereby considerable lost :motionv between the wheel and post, with its accom- `p'anying annoyance, develops. This lostmotion lgrows vworse as the bolt and notch suii'er wear and tear from the repeated slid` ing of the bolt and from the poundmg action of the side walls of the notch upon the sides of the bolt during the normal operation of the vehicle. l

The present invention has for anobject to provide a key-'controlled `locking connectionbetween a. steering post and wheel of such a nature that a person in, possession of the key may, at a moments notice, tightly and rigidly liX or connect these parts together, to the exclusion, of all lost motion; the wheel being perfectly free to. turn rela-- tively to the steering` post when unlocked from the latter. y t A further object of the invention isto provide the device in the formof a simple and inexpensive attachment readily appli- 'cable'to the steering 'gear commonl in use.

Still further, the invention has or an object to provide the lock in such form that 1t lSpecification. of Letters Patent.

cannot be manipulated to .connect the wheel Patented Feb. '15, i

.and post by a person not in possession' of the y proper key, thenature of the key'being' such,

that individual characteristics may bevread 1ly imparted to it, distinguishing it from all other simllar keys a-nd rendering it use- 'ful-1n manipulating only theindividual lock for'which was made.

he invention also aims 'to gain the .de-

sired safety from manipulation by unau-l thorized-persons without necessitating incorporat'on o mechanisms, such many Fur

` expensive tumbler lock as have been [provided in plrior steering gear locks. l t

the

erobjectsof the invention `will ,ap-

pear from the following description and e claims. y The invention, in its broader aspects', -consists essentlally in providing a readily 4removable and replaceable key for locking the hub of the steering wheel to the steering post, the key itself serving toftransmit motion from the wheel to the post and the be'aring between the wheel and post being vadapted to permlt free turningof the wheel on vthe post when the key sfremoved. lPreferably the device is made up in the form of an attachment comprising inner and outer hubs wlth a cylindrical bearingl vsurface therebetween;

.80 the inner hub being 3 adapted to be -keyed rigidly to thetapered edly secured to and madea partof thev Steer- `upper end portiony of the usual steering post'- and the outer hub being adapted to helix-1117i ing wheel.. These hubs are providedwithan .i

aperture or key-way which is` fsubstantial ly tangential to the cylindrical bearingsurface therebetween form the key-way, whereby when'l'the key isf of one hub .relative tothe' and the two'v'are inserted movement other'is prevented and tightly locked together.

A feature of importancelli'esinr 'iT-m du.'

V 'vision of a threaded connectionbetvveenfthe 9; 5f

portionv of the inne/1 'v andthe`- ...outer hub and the key, whereby'thekeymay be tightened to final positiongfthesi'zeof the inner end of the key-way beingreduced at} a point such as to afford 'a shoulder'inthe I may be had from the accompanying drawtal shoulder, whereby, as the key Ais' turned to force' it to `final position, the'rr shoulderedv portionof the key is vforced agam'st the i shouldered portion of thenotchin the inner hub and a slight relative turning movement of vthe two hubs is effected, thus tightly and v securely cramping all the parts together- 'and renden-ing them as solid as an integral con' structionwithout gripping the key ,in-'such a manner that it cannot be readily withdrawn. when desired.4 A

A fuller understanding of 'the invention ings in which Figure l is a side elevation -of, an automobile steerlng. wheel and post embodying-the invention. F ig.` 1a is a frag mentary' sectional View on the vline a-a,

Fig. 2. Fig. 2`is a Section en the line 2,-2, Fig.v 1. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection on the line-3 3, F ig.- 2; .v Fig. 4l is aperspe'ctive" view of the key-pin shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Fig. 5'is a disassembled perspective view of the parts of the inner hub member; the fastening screws being omitted. Fig. 6 is a.

at itsupper end and is formed with the* disassembled perspectlve view \of the parts of the key-way closing device. Fig. 7l is a fragmentary section on the line 7.-7, Fig'. 2.

Fig. 8 isa 'fragmentary section: similar to Fig. 2 but showing the key-way closed and the tip end of the key in firstposition preparatory to opening the key-way. Figs. 9, l0 and 11 are fragmentary elevations -similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating v.subsequent stages -of the operation of opening the keyway by manipulation of the key. Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 8 with the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 11. Fig.- 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11, showing the key-way opened sufficiently to nass the key.

usual key-way l2 for the key 3 which enters a Slotv in the hub ofthe usualsteering wheel' and locks the latter to the steering post; the usual nut 4 serving to forcethe hub of the steering Wheel tightly upon the 1post which may be formedwith the longitudinal aperture .5 for the usual spark and gas controlling shafts,`not shown.

In the 'present instance, wherein the invention is. embodied in' the form, of an'attachment, the steering wheel 6 is found with ahub 7 which is apertured at l8 toi-receive the reduced upper end-'portionof the buter hub member 9 which is bored out atlOl to freely receive andfit'over the usual stationary casf ing 11 v'for the steering -post 1. Alplurality--.- -of screws 12 serve to lixedlyfsecuretheouter yhub-"member 9 to the hub'7 ofthe steering wheel 6 and, in eifect,'make said ol'lter-,hubi-v member an lintegral part of the steering wheel.

Disposed within the" outer hub-.member 9 l .is an inner hub-memberl; the bearing surfaces4 14 between said hub-members beingpreferably truly cylindrical. The inner ub-membe'rl 13 is formed at its upperend with a flange 15 which coversand conceals the screws 12v and neatly finishes off the ex-y osed upper portion of the device as a whole'. Iecured tothe faced off lower end of theinner ,hub-member 13, by screws 16, is the retaining ring 17, the4 peripheral portion of which extends outwardly beyond the bearing surface 14 and forms an annular. supporting bearing 18 for'the outer-hub-mem- 4ber 9. The external diameter of the retain# ing ring 17 is preferably equal to that of the lcasing 11 so that it may fit nicely, although freely, Within the bore 10 of the outer hubmember. The inner hub-member 13 is formed with a taper-bore 19 and key-way 20 so that it may be iixedly secured to the steering post 1 by means of the usual key 3 and nut '4. Thus the inner hub-member, in

effect, becomes an integral part of the steer-- ing post 1. p

It is important that'the outer hub-memberbe freely journaled upon the inner hubmember so as to turn easily upon the latter even though subjected to considerable pressure axially of the steering post, and while I prefer tol employ the truly cylindricall bearing 14 and transverse supportingrbearing 18 arranged in a plane at right angles to the bearing 14, I realize that the necessary freedom for relative turning movement between the two hub-members may be secured even though other selections of the bearing surfaces be.y made. Slightly "tapered bearing surfaces with freedom for relative axial movement, whereby a wedging orl gripping-l actionis evidenced, should preferably be avoided..

In the present embodiment of the invention, the outer hubmember 9 lis provided with a cylindrical bore or key-Way 21 which is disposed transversely of the Vaxisof the hub-members ,'andflin/non-intersecting relation with said/axis. In other Words the key-Way 21 is not directed radially toward the axis of the steering .wheel but is directed to lone side of such axis and 'is preferably substantially tangential to the bearing surface 14, as shown in Fig. 2. The inner hubmember is formed with' atangential cylindrical notch 22 adapted to register with and form a part of the key-Way 21, as shown in Figs. 42, 3aud 5. The' inner end portion of "made of the same material, 'whereby' their Lacasse the key-way 2l. is reduced in sizeto afford a preferably .tapered shoulder 23 in the 4notched portion ofthe inner hub-member 13.

Althought not essential to the invention, intits broader aspects,-I prefer to provide the key-way"2l with a' centrally disposed cylindrical pin 24 whichV is cut away at 25 to clear the innerhubmember 13'when the' outer hub-member is `turned relative thereto.

The pin 24 is fixed at 'its inner end to the outer hub-member 9 in any suitable manner,

yas -by means ofthe screw threaded connection 25'.and transverse pin 26; the pins 24 and 26 bein ground od flush withthe outer Surface of t e outer hub-member and being presence is concealed. i

The key for locking the inner and outer hub-members together is. preferably made up inthe form of a hollow cylindrical pin 2 adapted to slide-nicely within and substantially fil-l the key-way 21; said key being formed with a head V27 and cross-pin 27c facilitating manipulation'thereof. The inner end 28 of the key 27 lis reduced in size to t the reduced inner end ofthe key-way and to afford a preferably tapered shoulder 29 Vcomplementary to the shoulder 23 in thev notched portion 22 of the inner hub-member. A relatively short screw-threaded connection 30, F ig. 2, is provided between the key 27 and the outer hub-member for the purpjose of tightening the key tol nal position.

his connection may conveniently be providedby tapping the inner end of the key, as.

at'31, Fig. 4,v whereby it may be screwed upon the threaded inner end of the pin 24. Thus the key 27 may be inserted forsubstantially its full length into key-way by anv endwisesliding motion and then tightened to final position by giving it a turn or two.

An important feature ofthe inventionis the exclusion of ail lost motion between the hub-members when they are locked together by means substantially as described. It will be noted that as the key is turned to Idraw it to final/position, the shoulder 29 is tightened against the shoulder 23 thus tending to turn the inner hub-member 13 relatively to the outer hub-1nember 9 and causingvthe cylindrical wall of the notch 22 to press tightly upon the eylindr'ical'wall ofthe key Y 27 thereby taking up any lost-motion which there may be between the parts and cramping them tightly togther as anintegral whole. This cramping action is,jhowever, not so Agreat as to prevent ready withdrawal of the key whenit is desired torender the steering gear inoperative to direct thecoui'se of the vehicle. -Thus the key 27 itself serves, when in position, to transmit motion from the steering wheel to the'post 1; the wheel being perfectly free to turn' relativeY to the post when' the key is withdrawn.

I prefer to. individualize the key.V 27 by providing circumferentially spaced complementalnotch and projection means; the projections'eonsisti'ng preferably of the pins y32, Fig. 7, which project radiallyv into the keyway 21, and .the notches.consisting of grooves 33 `cut longitudinally of the'key 27 which' latter vis reduced in s izeat 34 to clear the pins 32 when the key is fully inserted preparatory to'turnin sameto final position. The notches ani V'projections may bel angularly spaced aboutthe axis of the .key-

way in "accordanceI with., any desired. prede.y ternnned combination and it will4 befevident. that insertion of a similar keyhaving-l dii-v ferently' spaced notches is prevented;

The key may be further individualized bv 'cutting the grooves in spiral formation, as

'away or slotting the outer hub-member 9 at..

37, Fig. l?, and tting a retainer block 38 to said slot; the inner side of thereta'i'ner. block 38 being cutaway at 39 to receive the slide 35,4 and also being. 4formed .with an` aperture 40 in register with and fconstit'uting'a portion of the key-way-21. A spring- 41 serves to yieldingly force the'slide 35 toa position closingthe key-way 21, as'shown in Fig-8. The retainer block 38 is fixed to.

the hub-member 9 bymeans-of the pins 41.*.

The slide 35 is provided` with 'a .square .shoulder 42 and an inclined shoulder 43', the

latter extending acrossthe aperture 40, as

shown in Fig. '9, when the slide is inclosed position. f

ln order to prevent an unauthorized.person from readily pushing back the slide to gain laccess to the key-way 21, 'I prefer to provide the slide 35' with means for locking it in closed position. .The locking means may comprise aspring-pressed pin 44'carried by the slide and having alength equal' vto the thickness of the slide. The inner end of the pin 44`isnotched at454 to receive the free end of a spring 46 secured at its oppositev end` to' the slide 3 5 by means ofthe screw 47. The spring 46 tends to project i the pin lvinto thenotch 48 in the retainer block 39 when the slide is in closed position, l

Fig, 8, Toepen the slide. it is therefore necessary'tofpush in thepin 44. until it is. exactly flush with thesli'de and then lift the slidenby. some means engaging the inclined lifting "shoulder 43. If the`pin 44 is .pushed in too 'far it will enter the recess 48 at the` g rear of the slide andlock'the latter asfy )firmly as through the pin were not depressed at all. Thus a special implement is required to open the key-way and the key 27 is pref- 4. with a projection 48 of a length not greater than the height of the inclined shoulder 43. Thus, when the key is inserted in theen v`1o erably provided with the, necessary means. By referring to Figs. 4to' 8, it will be seen Vthat the Vfree end of thevkey 27 is formed tranceto the key-way 21, the proiection 48l may be positioned in engagement with 'i v the inclined shoulder 43 while the end of the key presses the cross Ipin 44 exactly flush y .Y with the slide 35.

The' key is then turned a fraction of a revolution in a clockwise direction to lift the slideto the positionxshown in Fig. 10.

i The key is then-reverselyturned, while held 'pressed against lthe slide whereby the friction or' the slide 35 in its slideway holds-the slide stationary while the projection 48 slips vpast the squareshiiulder 42 to the position wheel, which turns 'freely on the steering v post, witli a readily' removable tangential key for locking the wheel to the post and excluding all lost motion. I therefore desire lthat the broad scope of the present improvement be borne in mind when constru- -inff the appended claims.

' aving thus set forth the naturetof the,

invention, what Iclaim herein is 1. A steering wheel locking device having, 1n combination, inner-aand outer hub-members with an annular supporting bearing for l the outer'hub-member permitting free turnl ing movement of the latter relative to. the

inner hub-member, a key-pin directed transv.vers'ely and to one side of the axis of said hub-members for locking them together against relative turning movement, said keypin being constructed and adapted lfor ready removal from said hub-members by an endwise movement, while said hubmembers are in assembled relation. l

2... A steering mechanism` having, in comvbinatio'n, a tangentially notched inner'hubmember adapted to be fixed to a steering post, a steering wheelmounted upon said inner hub-member and formed with an outer hub-member which'is apertured in register with 'the notch in said inner hub-member, and a key-pin received within said aperture and notch for locking the wheel against turning movement relative to the post,"said keypin being adapted to be readily removed from 'and-replaced in said hub-members? whilesaid hub-members are in assembled relation. fr: y l

' 3. A 'steering mechanism comprising, a steering post having at its upper end a hubmemberformed with a tangential notch, 'a I steering wheel having a hub-member `jour- `naled on Said irst mentioned hub-member and formed with an aperture adapted to registerwith said notch, a pin iixed at one end to the hub-member of the wheel and ex- 4tending axially of said aperture, and a key .having an axial aperture receiving said xed Ipin and adapted to' enter said first mentioned aperture and notch 'to locksaid hublmembers together. E ,l

A steering mechanism comprising, a steering post having at its upper end a hubmember'formed with a tangential notch, al

steering wheel having a hub-member jour- -naled on said first mentioned hub-member and formed with a Acylindrical aperture adapted to register withsaid notch, a pin xed at one end to the hub-member of the wheel and extending axially of said apei ture, a cylindrical key having an axial aperture receiving said fixed pin and 'adapted to enter saidcylindrical aperture and notch to lock said hub-members together, and a screw threaded connection between said fixed 1pin and key. 5.

steering mechanism comprising, a4

steering post having at its upper end a hubmember formed with a tangential notch, a steering wheel having a hub-member jour- 'naled on said first mentioned hub-member and formed with an aperture adapted to register with said notch, a readily removable key pin received Within said aperture and notch for locking said hub-members tol' gether, the bearing between said hub-membersbeing such as to permit free turning movement of one hub-member relative to l the other'when the key-pin is withdrawn,

and means for automatically closingv the key" aperture when the key is removed.

6. A"lo`cking attachment comprising, inner and outer hub-members having a cylindrical bearing surface therebetween, said hubmembers being both cut awayto form a cy lindrical key aperture the axis of which is substantially tangential to said surface,

- a cylindricalkeypin slidable endwise Within said aperture for locking said hub-members together against relative 'turning movement, said key-pin being constructed so as to permit of its readyremovalifrom said hubmembers While` the latter are in assembled relation,'whereby to unlock said hub-members. v

7. A locking attachment comprising, inner and outer hub-members having a cylindrical bearing surface therebetween, said hubmembers being both cut away to form a keygilso substantially tangential to 'said surface, a

lessees aperture the axis of which lis substantially tangential to said surface, a key-pin slidable endwise within said aperture for locking 'said hub-memberstogether, said key and inner hub-member being formed with coacting shouldered portions, and means associated with said key for holding the latter in locking position.

v8. A locking device comprising, inner and outer hub-membersr having a cylindrical bearing surface therebetween, said hubmembers being both cutaway to form a cylindrical key aperture the axis of which is cylindrical key-pin sl'i'dabl'egendwise within said aperture for lockingsaid hub-members together, and screw means-for tightening the key-pin in 1locking position.

9. locking attachment comprising, inner and outer hub-members having a cylindrical 4bearing surface therebetween, said hubniembers being both cut away to `torni a cylindrical key aperture the axis of which is substantially tangential to said surface, and

a 1cylindrical key-pinY for locking said hubmembers together, said key and inner hubmember being formed with coacting shouldered portions, there being a relatively short screw threaded connection between said hubs member and key distinct from said shouldered portion for tightening the latter to 10. The combination in a steering wheel of inner and outer hub-members having registerin recesses, of a readily removable key-pin s idably received within said recesses for locking the hub-members against relativel turning moven ent, said keyand the wall of said recess being formed withcircumferentially spaced complemental notch and projection means preventing effective insertion of a similar key not possessed ,ot

the predetermined characteristics of the original key. v

l1. The combination, in a steering wheel of inner and outer hub-members having registerin recesses, oi a readily removable .keypin sidably received within said recesses for locking the hub-members against relative turning movenieiit, said' key and 4recess being 'of complementary irregular shape in cross section at points along the length of each, such that effective insertion of a' similar key not possessed of the predetermined characteristics of the original key is prevented.

12. The combination' in a steering wheel of inner and outer hub-1nembers having registering cylindrical recessed portions, oiE a readily removable cylindrical key slidably received within said recessed lportions for locking the hub-members together, the recessed portion or one hub-member being formed with circumferentially spaced in-i wardly projecting pins andthe body et the therebetween, a removable ke key .being formed -with similarly 'spaced longitudinally extending grooves, whereby insertion of a similar key having diilerently `spaced grooves is prevented. v

13. The combination in a steering wheel of inner and outer hub-members having registering cylindrical recessedl portions, of a readily removable cylindrical key sIidably.

received Within said recessed portions for lockingthe hub-meinbers,together, tlie re cessed portion of one hnb-member being formed with circumferentially spaced in, wardly projecting pins and the body of the key being formed with similarly spaced longitudinally extending grooves, whereby insertion of a similar key having .differently spaced grooves is prevented, and means between said pins and the entrance of the recess inthe wheel for automatically closing said recesswhen the key is withdrawn.

lll. A locking attachment comprisinglinner and outer liubniembers with a bearing therebetween, a removable key for locking `slide for closin said key-hole said slide having a li'lting shoulder and carrying a transverse spring-pressed pin of a length equal y to the ythickness of said slide,said pin acting t0 lock said slide in closed position, oi a `key t'ormcd with an eccentric lifting projection and an end surface adapted to depress saidtransverse pin until its opposite ends arie Hush withu the opposite side surfaces et saidkey-liole -closing slide.

17. A locking attachment comprising inner and outer hub-members havinga eylin drical bearing surface therebetween, said hub members beinew both cut away 'to form an elongated key aperture which is substantially tangential to said surface, a key-pin slidable end-wise within said aperture while said hub-members are in assembled relation, tor` locking said hub members togetherI against relative turning movement, `said key-pin being iorined with a tapered 'pon tion adapted` to coact withfthe inner hub member for tightening the parts together when the key is tightened endwise, and means for torcinyi the key end wise toA tighten the same in inserted position.

18. A locking device comprising inner and outer body-members having a bearing surface therebetween, said members being both out away to form a cylindrical key aperture, the axis of which is substantially tangential to said bearing surface, and a cylindrical key-pin for locking said bodymembers together against relative turning name to this specification. y

, RUDOLPH BECKER. 

